Third Party Audit under RTI Act 2005, by any Government Training Institute: DOPT

Third Party Audit under RTI Act 2005, by any Government Training Institute, in respect of Ministry/Department/Public Authority: DOPT OM dated 20.09.2022

No: 1/34/2013-IR (Pt.)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
IR Division

North Block, New Delhi-110001
Dated: 20th September, 2022

Office Memorandum

Subject:- Third Party Audit under RTI Act 2005, by any Government Training Institute, in respect of Ministry/Department/Public Authority -reg.

The undersigned is directed to invite attention to the Guidelines issued by this Department vide OM No.1/6/2011-IR dated 15.04.2013 which were reiterated on 07.11.2019 with slight modification on implementation of suo motu disclosure by all Public Authorities (PAs) under Section 4 of the RTI Act and subsequently carrying out the third party audit of their proactive disclosure.

2. Further, vide OM No.1/34/2013-IR dated 30.06.2016 and OM of even number dated 15.10.2019, the provision related to third party audit of suo motu disclosure by the PAs was clarified and relaxed and it was provided that the task of undertaking transparency audits may be given to respective Government Training institutes by Ministry/Department/Public Authority and across the States and Union Territories. However, in cases where no Training Institute exists under the Ministry/Department/Public Authority, the task of undertaking transparency audits may be given to any Government Training institute.

3. This department is in receipt of multiple requests from different Public Authorities seeking relaxation/clarifications in respect of provisions related to third party audit of proactive disclosure in implementation of the Section 4 of the RTI Act on account of substantial difference in audit cost charged by different auditing training institutes, shortage of manpower/adequately trained man-power, pre-engagement of the training institute with its scheduled training activities etc.

4. The issue has been examined in view of the difficulties being faced by the Public Authorities in undertaking the third party audit of their proactive disclosures in terms of guidelines dated 07.11.2019 and it has been decided that the task of undertaking transparency audits may be given to any Government Training Institutes by Ministry/Department /Public Authority, under the Central or State Governments.

5. Accordingly, all the Ministries/Departments are requested to take appropriate action and ensure that the above instructions are communicated to their Attached and Subordinate Offices/PSUs/Public Authorities for wide implementation and compliance in order to carry out the third party audit of their proactive disclosure. All the above referred OMs are accessible at www.dopt.gov.in — Notification – OMs& Orders — RTI.

(Varsha Sinha)
Joint Secretary
Tel: 23092755

To

The Secretary to all Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India

Copy to:

Secretary, Central Information Commission, Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka, New Delhi-110067
Chief Secretaries of all the States/UTs

Source: DOPT